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“Cornhusker: Demon Gene,” My First Published Story

I’ve been listening to podcasts since before ebooks became a popular way of making money in publishing, and it almost feels like I’ve missed the boat waiting this long to get my first story out there. However, I’ve seen too many premature self-publishers to value catching a ride on the ebook ark more than waiting until my fiction was ready to publish. “Cornhusker: Demon Gene” is my first short story acceptance, but unlike most short fiction sales, I don’t have to wait for rights to publish it myself. It will be in the Monsters!anthology at some point, so those who want to see it in paper form can get it then.

What is “Cornhusker: Demon Gene” about?

The emotional focal point centers on a high school senior with something worse than death looming over his immediate future. His family has a hereditary disease that could turn him into a monster any day now. When a special girl breaks through his wall of self-defense, he experiences great joy, only to possibly lose it all.

Monsters! is an anthology to be published by A Flame in the Dark, the Horror imprint of Diminished Media Group. The call for stories for this anthology asked for Christian themes, so this may not be in your wheelhouse, though I think everyone can relate to the idea of choosing hope over fear, and I’ve tried not to make this the cliche, preachy Christian fiction even I don’t enjoy.

I understand I am still in the very early stages of my writing, so if you would honor me with an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc, I promise not to hold a grudge.

I don’t have any more stories on the immediate publishing horizon, but I have an idea for how you can earn free stories in the future:

Anyone who reviews “Cornhusker: Demon Gene” on Amazon and Goodreads will get my next published story as a free ebook.*

*Conditions: 1) email me the link to your review (tim [at] timothycward [dot] com; 2) depending on what my next published story is, I may not have rights to send an ebook right away, but if and when I do, I will send you one.

I’ll blog regarding marketing strategies now that I have something for sale, but my main focus is on finishing my novel, Kaimerus. The update there is that I have edited up to the point of writing a new ending. I’ve also been busy sending podcast content to Adventures in SciFi Publishing, so be sure to head over there and subscribe for the latest download.

Timothy C. Ward is a former executive producer and Hugo Nominee of Adventures in SciFi Publishing. He has been broke and lost on the other side of the world and now dreams of greater adventures from his keyboard in Des Moines, Iowa. This summer, he released his second Sand Divers book, Scavenger: A.I., where two parents use an ancient technology to fight a reproducing A.I. while trying to resurrect their deceased infant, and a new series that begins with Godsknife: Revolt, an apocalyptic battle for godhood in the rift between Iowa and the Abyss. Sign up for his newsletter for news, sales, giveaways and more: http://www.timothycward.com/newsletter/.

You guys rock. As I said, I’d be honored by a review, even if it isn’t glowing. It is an honor to be part of your reading queue and the community of authors who get to have their fiction reviewed. This is a first for me, and even negative reviews can’t sour that. Of course, if it’s negative then you’re just wrong, but that’s ok ;). lol